Description
Often practiced for health and longevity, the simplicity and effectiveness of Tai Chi has meant that it has emerged as a popular and accessible way to cope with the pressures and strains of modern living worldwide.Containing a complete introduction to the principles and practices of Tai Chi, and accompanied by clear and instructive photography throughout, Angus Clark gives beginners and amateurs all of the support they need as they start to practice.Including sections on the basic principles of movement and the body, how Tai Chi can help to heal, life energies, meridians and the seven major chakras, as well as step-by-step guides to the complete movement sequence, The Complete Illustrated Guide to Tai Chi will help to improve mind, movement and focus for anyone seeking a more meditative approach to life.… (more)
Library's review
This instructive guide to the principles and practice of tai chi includess:
History, origins, and philosophy of tai chi.
The basic principles-movement and the body.
Life energies-meridians and the 7 major chakras.
Mind, movement, and focus.
A step-by-step guide to the complete movement
Branching out-other important aspects of the art.
Tai chi for life, health, and leisure.
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Tai Chi is a beautifully photographed, informative, and practical guide to the life-enhancing practice of the short form of Chang Man Ching tai chi. This ancient art is now emerging worldwide as a simple and accessible aid to coping with the pressures of modern living.
Angus Clark is a recognised instructor of the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain and has taught tai chi both nationalliy and internationally. He studied this ancient Chinese art with Mike Spinks and Alan Peack and also learned directly from Grandmaster Dr. Chi Chiang Tao. Angus Clark is the founder of the School of Living Movement in Devon, England.
Contents
How to use this book
Preface
1 Origins and history
Introducing tai chi
The roots of tai chi
Change and harmony
The birth of tai chi
A healing art
Seven quaities
Seven steps to progress
2 A body-based practice
Movement, health, and body awareness
The skeleton
The muscles
Body alignment
Stability and mobility
Body shape and posture
Inside the body
The circulation
Digestion and elimination
Sensory systems
Breathing
The energy centers
3 Taking steps and making moves
Preparing for practice
Moves and postures
The language of tai chi movements
Eight basic postures
The stances
Stepping
Balanced walking
Key moves
Warm-up movements
4 The complete shorty form
Introducing the form
Beginning
Ward off left
Ward off reight
Rollback
Press
Push
Single whip
Lifting hands
Shoulder stroke
White crane spreads wings
Brush left knee and push (1)
Play guitar
Brush left knee and push (2)
Punch (1)
Withdraw and push
Crossing hands
Embrace tiger, return to mountain
Rollback, press, push, and single whip
Punch under elbow
Step back to repulse monkey
Diagonal flying
Waving hands in clouds
Single whip
Squatting single whip
Golden rooster stands on one leg
Separate right foot
Separate left foot
Brush knee and push
Needles at sea bottom
Iron fan
Turn body, chop, and push
Bring down
Punch (2)
Kick with heel
Brush right knee and push
Brush right knee and punch downward
Ward off right
Fair lady weaves the shuttle
Ward off left
Squatting single whip
Step back to ride tiger
Turn and sweep lotus
Bend bow to shoot tiger
Punch (3)
Withdraw and push
Completion
5 Tai chi-the broader picture
Branching out
Working with a partner
A fighting art
Tai chi weapons forms
Cultivating energy
6 Tai chi creative living
Tai chi for life
Nature and the elements
Freestyle movement
Creativity and expression
Tai chi at work
Tai chi at leisure
7 Life stories
Achieving self-fulfilment
Growing and changing
Tai chi experiences
Styles, schools, approaches
Glossary
Useful addresses
Further reading (bibliography)
Index
Acknowledgements
History, origins, and philosophy of tai chi.
The basic principles-movement and the body.
Life energies-meridians and the 7 major chakras.
Mind, movement, and focus.
A step-by-step guide to the complete movement
Show More
sequence.Branching out-other important aspects of the art.
Tai chi for life, health, and leisure.
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Tai Chi is a beautifully photographed, informative, and practical guide to the life-enhancing practice of the short form of Chang Man Ching tai chi. This ancient art is now emerging worldwide as a simple and accessible aid to coping with the pressures of modern living.
Angus Clark is a recognised instructor of the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain and has taught tai chi both nationalliy and internationally. He studied this ancient Chinese art with Mike Spinks and Alan Peack and also learned directly from Grandmaster Dr. Chi Chiang Tao. Angus Clark is the founder of the School of Living Movement in Devon, England.
Contents
How to use this book
Preface
1 Origins and history
Introducing tai chi
The roots of tai chi
Change and harmony
The birth of tai chi
A healing art
Seven quaities
Seven steps to progress
2 A body-based practice
Movement, health, and body awareness
The skeleton
The muscles
Body alignment
Stability and mobility
Body shape and posture
Inside the body
The circulation
Digestion and elimination
Sensory systems
Breathing
The energy centers
3 Taking steps and making moves
Preparing for practice
Moves and postures
The language of tai chi movements
Eight basic postures
The stances
Stepping
Balanced walking
Key moves
Warm-up movements
4 The complete shorty form
Introducing the form
Beginning
Ward off left
Ward off reight
Rollback
Press
Push
Single whip
Lifting hands
Shoulder stroke
White crane spreads wings
Brush left knee and push (1)
Play guitar
Brush left knee and push (2)
Punch (1)
Withdraw and push
Crossing hands
Embrace tiger, return to mountain
Rollback, press, push, and single whip
Punch under elbow
Step back to repulse monkey
Diagonal flying
Waving hands in clouds
Single whip
Squatting single whip
Golden rooster stands on one leg
Separate right foot
Separate left foot
Brush knee and push
Needles at sea bottom
Iron fan
Turn body, chop, and push
Bring down
Punch (2)
Kick with heel
Brush right knee and push
Brush right knee and punch downward
Ward off right
Fair lady weaves the shuttle
Ward off left
Squatting single whip
Step back to ride tiger
Turn and sweep lotus
Bend bow to shoot tiger
Punch (3)
Withdraw and push
Completion
5 Tai chi-the broader picture
Branching out
Working with a partner
A fighting art
Tai chi weapons forms
Cultivating energy
6 Tai chi creative living
Tai chi for life
Nature and the elements
Freestyle movement
Creativity and expression
Tai chi at work
Tai chi at leisure
7 Life stories
Achieving self-fulfilment
Growing and changing
Tai chi experiences
Styles, schools, approaches
Glossary
Useful addresses
Further reading (bibliography)
Index
Acknowledgements
Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member pathlessness
A well-illustrated book, going beyond the Yang form ot taiji, the warm-up excercises and the basic movements are very well presented. There are articles about connection your life-style with practice. It could be recommended for those who think to instruct.
ISBN
7122489
Publication
Element